US4097003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Constant pull safety belt retracting mechanism
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1977-01-31
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Granted: 1978-06-27
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Expires: 1997-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A safety belt retracting mechanism having constant pull includes a spindle supporting a rotatable spool for storing the belt within a housing. A conventional, positive coefficient of force spring inside the housing applies a retracting force to the spool and belt as the belt is pulled by the occupant. The spring is coupled between the housing and spool to a gear train having a negative coefficient of force transfer characteristic. The negative transfer characteristic of the gear train is caused by a changing gear ratio which compensates for the positive force characteristic of the spring to provide constant pull to the belt. The changing gear ratio is produced by a spiral-shaped gear coupled to a constant radius pinion formed on one end of the spindle. The spiral-shaped gear is formed on the hub of a containment member enclosing the spring. The containment member is mounted to the housing on a pivot arm. The arm is resiliently biased by a spring to maintain the spiral-shaped gear in enmeshment with the pinion during gear rotation.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C. Stouffer
- 👤 Jerome W. Schotthoefer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:34
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/44; B60R2022/4413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
In a vehicle safety system including a safety belt adapted to restrain an occupant in position on a seat, a safety belt constant pull retracting mechanism comprising: a housing; a spindle journalled on said housing and adapted to receive said safety belt in helical wrap, said spindle being rotatable in a winding direction and in an opposite, unwinding direction; positive force coefficient characteristic biasing means for biasing said spindle to rotate in the winding direction; and a spiral-shaped gear for coupling said biasing means to said spindle; an end of said spindle including a first pinion having a constant radius, and means for coupling said spiral-shaped gear to said first pinion; a decreasing gear ratio established between said spiral-shaped gear and said first pinion during protraction of said belt producing a negative coefficient of force characteristic to compensate for the positive characteristic of said biasing means, a resulting pull applied to the belt thereby being approximately constant as the belt is protracted from said housing; and second biasing means biasing said spiral-shaped gear and said first pinion in enmeshment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a vehicle safety system including a safety belt adapted to restrain an occupant in position on a seat, a safety belt constant pull retracting mechanism comprising: a housing; a spindle journalled on said housing and adapted to receive said safety belt in helical wrap, said spindle being rotatable in a winding direction and in an opposite, unwinding direction; positive force coefficient characteristic biasing means for biasing said spindle to rotate in the winding direction; and a spiral-shaped gear for coupling said biasing means to said spindle; an end of said spindle including a first pinion having a constant radius, and means for coupling said spiral-shaped gear to said first pinion; a decreasing gear ratio established between said spiral-shaped gear and said first pinion during protraction of said belt producing a negative coefficient of force characteristic to compensate for the positive characteristic of said biasing means, a resulting pull applied to the belt thereby being approximately constant as the belt is protracted from said housing; and second biasing means biasing said spiral-shaped gear and said first pinion in enmeshment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes spur and pinion means, said spur and pinion means meshing with said spiral-shaped gear and said first pinion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mechanism of claim 2, wherein said biasing means is connected between said housing and said spiral-shaped gear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mechanism of claim 3, wherein said biasing means is disposed within a containment member, said spiral-shaped gear being mounted on said containment member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 4, including an arm pivotally connected to said containment member, said arm permitting the position of said containment member to follow a profile of said spiral-shaped gear during protraction of said belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mechanism of claim 5, wherein said second biasing means comprises a second spring for biasing said arm to maintain said sprial-shaped gear and said first pinion in enmeshment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a vehicle safety system including a safety belt adapted to restrain an occupant in position on a seat, a safety belt constant pull retracting mechanism comprising: a housing; a spindle journalled on said housing and adapted to receive said safety belt in helical wrap, said spindle being rotatable in a winding direction and in an opposite, unwinding direction; positive force coefficient characteristic biasing means for biasing said spindle to rotate in the winding direction; a spiral-shaped gear for coupling said biasing means to said spindle; an end of said spindle including a first pinion having a constant radius, and means for coupling said spiral-shaped gear to said first pinion; a decreasing gear ratio established between said spiral-shaped gear and said first pinion during protraction of said belt producing a negative coefficient of force characteristic to compensate for the positive characteristic of said biasing means, a resulting pull applied to the belt thereby being approximately constant as the belt is protracted from said housing; said coupling means including spur and pinion means, said spur and pinion means meshing with said spiral-shaped gear and said first pinion, said biasing means being connected between said housing and said spiral-shaped gear, said biasing means being disposed within a containment member and said spiral-shaped gear being mounted on said containment member; and an arm pivotally connected to said containment member, said arm permitting the position of said containment member to follow a profile of said spiral-shaped gear during protraction of said belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a vehicle safety system including a safety belt adapted to restrain an occupant in position on a seat, a safety belt constant pull retracting mechanism comprising: a housing; a spindle journalled on said housing and adapted to receive said safety belt in helical wrap, said spindle being rotatable in a winding direction and in an opposite, unwinding direction; positive force coefficient characteristic biasing means for biasing said spindle to rotate in the winding direction; a spiral-shaped gear for coupling said biasing means to said spindle; an end of said spindle including a first pinion having a constant radius, and means for coupling said spiral-shaped gear to said first pinion; a decreasing gear ratio established between said spiral-shaped gear and said first pinion during protraction of said belt producing a negative coefficient of force characteristic to compensate for the positive characteristic of said biasing means, a resulting pull applied to the belt thereby being approximately constant as the belt is protracted from said housing; said coupling means including spur and pinion means, said spur and pinion means meshing with said spiral-shaped gear and said first pinion, said biasing means being connected between said housing and said spiral-shaped gear, said biasing means being disposed within a containment member and said spiral-shaped gear being mounted on said containment member; and an arm pivotally connected to said containment member, said arm permitting the position of said containment member to follow a profile of said spiral-shaped gear during protraction of said belt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4036449A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-26 | 1981-12-26 | 1982-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-26 | 1985-12-26 | 1986-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-26 | 1989-12-26 | 1990-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |